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Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has acknowledged France’s superiority following the Atlas Lions’ 2-0 defeat in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, insisting his side was forced onto the defensive by the quality of the French team rather than by tactical choice.
Speaking after Morocco’s World Cup campaign came to an end, Ouahbi said France’s ability on the ball dictated the flow of the game and prevented his players from implementing their preferred style.
“Why did we defend from the beginning? They forced us to defend because they were very good when they had the ball, and they moved well down the flanks,” Ouahbi said.
“We were not the ones who chose to sit deep. We have to admit they were better than us and quicker.”
France secured their place in the semifinals through second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, ending Morocco’s hopes of reaching the last four for a second consecutive World Cup.
Despite the defeat, the Atlas Lions remained organized for long spells and were kept in the contest thanks to several key saves from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Ouahbi also addressed refereeing controversy surrounding France’s opening goal, which came after replays appeared to show Adrien Rabiot handling the ball during the build-up.
The incident has sparked widespread debate among supporters, many of whom questioned why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene.
However, the Morocco coach chose not to dwell on the controversy.
“There was a handball, but I didn’t see the incident clearly enough, so I won’t speak too much about it,” he said.
The coach also dismissed suggestions that Morocco’s elimination should be attributed to injuries, despite several key players missing the match or playing through fitness concerns.
“When you lose important players, of course it isn’t easy,” Ouahbi admitted. “But I won’t look for excuses.”
Instead, he emphasized the need to recognize France’s performance while remaining proud of what Morocco achieved throughout the tournament.
The Atlas Lions reached the quarterfinals after another impressive World Cup campaign, building on the momentum of their historic semifinal appearance in Qatar four years earlier.
Although disappointment was evident after the final whistle, Ouahbi said the tournament should ultimately be remembered as another important step in Morocco’s continued development on the international stage.
“It has been a long season, and the players have played many matches,” he said. “We are proud of what we achieved. We are sad to lose, but we have to accept it.”
Morocco exits the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the last remaining African and Arab nation in the competition, once again reinforcing its status among the world’s emerging football powers despite falling short against one of the tournament favorites.
